Brigadier Priyanka Fernando reinstated

The Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, who was suspended, has been reinstated on the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena.

However, an inquiry into the incident has been initiated. Military Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said the Army will cooperate with any investigation conducted by the Foreign Ministry. He said a decision cannot be taken to punish him immediately, based on a video clip alone. He said there was a tense situation at the time of the incident and as such, an inquiry has been initiated to determine what had transpired.

Brigadier Fernando had assumed duties as the Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London in May 2017.

Having a military career spanning 32 years, he had spent 2/3rd of his service on the field and had contributed significantly to the war. An officer of the Gemunu Watch, he has a good service record, according to the Army.

It is also reported that the President had instructed the Foreign Ministry Secretary to reinstate Brigadier Fernando and reprimanded him for having suspended him without a proper inquiry.

However, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maheshini Colonne told the Daily News, that she had not received any information regarding the reinstatement orders by the President.

British Parliamentarians Joan Ryan and Siobhain McDonagh had earlier called on the British Foreign Secretary to withdraw Brigadier Priyanka Fernando’s diplomatic papers and expel him from the UK, after he was filmed making ‘unacceptable gestures’ to those protesting outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, on February 4.

Ryan and McDonagh, the Vice Chair and Senior Vice Chair of the Tamil All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), also said in their letter to Boris Johnson MP that the conduct of Brigadier Fernando was inappropriate, unacceptable and threatening, being someone who is serving in an official capacity as a guest of the UK.

There are 4 Comments

Show us who validated a terrorist group to raise flags. Show us who validated protests against a national day of a souvereign nation. Show the word, that your parliamentarians have spoken about crime against sinhalese. Show this world that the UK is a country who does not allow terrorism, separationism, but respect true national spirits of a war hero. Show your true face !!! This is a challenge.

Mr. Gamage you are wrong. Bad behavior by cannot be covered up by slander. The brigadier is representing Sri lanka and should behave accordingly. Nobody becomes a hero by wearing a military uniform. Just what it would have been if a marine inside the US embassy made a similar gesture to the crowd dashing tons of coconut in front of their main gate in Colombo. So grow up. Peaceful protests are allowed in the UK and thugs are not tolerated

Any group can raise any flags provided agreeable to authorities. But embassy staff must and expect to behave like an embassy official dignity charm character. His behaviour is not one that is expected by a country his or where he is. Manners culture